5 comments about Bushido: The Way of the Samurai (Square One Classics).

1. Maybe you've seen the movie 'The Last Samurai' starring Tom Cruise. I think this movie is a very good resemblance of samurai culture and beliefs, even though it's in a Hollywood production.
   
   So what can I do with sword-knowledge on my laptop? Wait, I'm not even going to try think this way.
   
   Being samurai is much more about living a certain way than it is about fighting. Even nowadays we cannot think the earth is without war but even a hundred years back it was part of live. When you had to choose in that age, I'd prefer taking up the sword instead of making money as well.
   
   Bushido's writings are fascinating to read. You have to do the translation of converting the knowledge to this age yourself, but if this is not the first book you read about Japanese culture it shouldn't be too hard.
   
   With only 96 pages of real text anyone can at least read it and form his own judgement. If you find it is not for you, then at least you didn't had to read long before you figured that out!



2. This book is good, since its a Japanese author, however, what does he know about Bushido? Seriously, Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi, who was a Bushi himself is much more real and practical than any other.



3. Tsunemoto wrote the Hagakure, not a treatise on Bushido. The latter was attempted by Inazo Nittobe in more recent years. The Hagakure (falling leaves) is a series of anecdotes from the time Tsunemoto spent as a retainer.
   
   This text (which is actually the Hagakure, NOT BUSHIDO) does provide the reader with a solid mindset of Bushido more so than Nittobe's writing. However, it is still not a treatise on Bushido, as the publisher of this book is seeming to imply.
   
   If you are truly interested in learning about Bushido, I highly recommend the Hagakure along with Nittobe's Bushido, the Go-Rin-No-Sho, and the Heiho Kadensho.



4. Whatever your belief system, this is a major work that needs to be read and contemplated slowly. It' a wonderful insight into the code by which the Samurai lived, and one that many people could make use of in real ways in their own lives, and without betraying any other beliefs really. It's largely about disciplined living.
   Once you've read it, if you then want a novel to read, I will highly recommend
   Jayne Joso's:
   Soothing Music for Stray Cats
   which references The Way of The Samurai, I think you are certain to enjoy and appreciate it.



5. If the prince is about acquiring and maintaining a position of influence (or legitimate power), bushido is about acquiring and maintaining respect (or referent power). It is common knowledge that saving face is a prized virtue in the east and this book is the code by which that virtue can be achieved and maintained. As teams become more popular in word and in deed, the timeless knowledge in this book will be indispensible to team leaders, project managers, program managers, and all of those individuals that depend upon collaboration for success.

5 comments about Loon: A Marine Story.

1. "Loon" was a fascinating read that I thoroughly enjoyed. It did bring back some memories that I found uncomfortable. I too served in the USMC during the 1960s, and although I did not see combat, I felt the emotions Jack conveyed in his book. I certainly felt the let down he describes after returning to civilian life. It was a difficult time that has followed many of us for over 40 years.
   
   A good friend of mine who retired from the USAF after serving in the Korean War asked me why those who served during the Vietnam War had a different attitude than the Korean War Veterans. Jack's book, "Loon" conveys the anwer.
   
   Mike Smith



2. My high school boyfriend(we were going to be married) was killed in this battle. Recently a Corpsman who was present when my boyfriend was hit in this battle contracted me with a message that my boyfriend ask him to tell me and his parents. His dying words were of his love for us. So this book has special meaning for me.
   
   We should never forget what these boys did for us in Vietnam, they were just boys. We as a Nation were not very nice to the Vets that came home from Vietnam they have suffered greatly!Thats why I think that this War should be taught in the schools right along with 1 and 2.
   
   This book was written by a Marine that was there. I cant even begin to think of the pain this book has caused him.
   Maybe the healing can begin. People should read this book to never forget what it has cost in lives and on the men who came home.
   
   Thank you
   Mary Jo Huey



3. I wanted to learn about the experience of an enlisted man in the U.S. Marine Corps and his experience in Vietnam. The book more than met my expectations and is well written.



4. Jack McLean's memoirs brought forth an interesting story of his life from adolescence to manhood. He makes the reader feel as though they were there, right along with him on his journey through school, boot camp, and Viet Nam. To hear the truth from someone who gives an honest account of what really happened in Viet Nam was effective and mood altering. It gives one a sense of pride to be an American.I've waited 42 years to hear the truth. I would love to read another book by this author. I would like to thank him, his comrades and his fallen brothers for their commitment to the American people. True patriots.
   The book was intriguing.



5. Loon was a book that transported you back to the era and was difficult to stop reading at any given point. It's the way it was during that time period. It brought back many memories. I highly recommend it!

5 comments about Kill Bin Laden: A Delta Force Commander's Account of the Hunt for the World's Most Wanted Man.

1. Now if the politicians, both civilian and military, would just get out of the way, we may survive this war to the death (which is what the jihadists have made it). Great book!



2. This book covers fascinating material from a first-person perspective in a way few other books can, but the failure is in the writing. Everyone described is the "baddest" this or the "smartest" that and slang is thrown around in a way that doesn't serve as style - but rather merely serves to show that the author didn't use the services of any other author. This means that all nuance is lost and the descriptions of all personalities in the book are boxy and lack nuance, clarity, or anything resembling detail in the way I would hope someone who worked on the ground would be able to convey.
   
   In short, the material is amazing, but I do not embellish when I say that the writing resembles that of a 7 year old boy writing about his most recent war adventure with his friends in the woods out back. This is not an indictment of the author or his experiences, rather it is a plea that someone with this great material use another author and strong editors to get their message out clearly and in a way that adds value.



3. The book is well written and the heroic stories of our guys way upfront again illustrates the true warrior spirit is alive and well within our mil system. Although, I am near the end..I come away from reading the book with the opinion, our people did the best they could under the circumstances to eliminate the bad guys at Tora Bora. But, the strategic planners failed the mission..to provide enough resources and boots on the ground to not only allow UBL to escape, but allow the foreign fighters to sustain themselves against the United States..a true military superpower.
   
   What we did not learn at Tora Bora...came at us again during Operation Anaconda. Frankly, another "screwup" or FUBAR..why did we not learn not to depend upon the locals...why did the strategic "thinkers" allocate another force when our people were prepared to do the job. Tora Bora, Operation Anaconda..atop Takur Ghar..the Tilman incident and many others are glaring examples of "what went wrong". I could include Wanat or Kamdesh, as well as current examples.
   
   When one places an historical perspective...winning World War II against two military powers of the 20th century (Japan and Germany)..compared to the nearly 9 years in Afghanistan and 7 in Iraq...one can only "blame" the leadership, both civilian and military.
   
   But, for the Soldiers, Special Forces troopers, Delta, CIA and others..they did their best under the circumstances and will continue..
   
   Paktia/Khost-2003



4. If you have ever questioned the need for a clandestine military force read this book. You'll begin to understand why these soldiers do their jobs without fanfare or acknowledgment and why the president calls them first. We owe these soldiers a debt of gratitude that cannot be paid. If you'd just like to understand the beginnings of the war on terror and just who the enemy really is this book is a MUST read.



5. The author of this lame read runs his mouth a lot about how his hands were tied, but they seemed pretty free to me. Dalton Fury was given a broad mission-type order to 'kill Bin Laden' and instead he just acted like a diva and then wrote a boring book. Boring from the lack of action in addition to the bland language.
   
   Delta Force NEVER assaulted the Al-Qaeda positions at Tora Bora even once, according to their commander in this book. To illustrate how close they even attempted to get to him, their entire unit never fired even a single shot(!) throughout the 'battle,' and they were all trained snipers. If this is America's dedication, then the situation is definitely hopeless because the Taliban aren't afraid to die. The supposed 'best of the best' didn't even man up to charge Bin Laden when it was their given mission to kill him.
   
   I had a miserable time reading this garbage. The author sure seemed to think him and the D-Boys were really bad dudes, but it sure seems like they just blew it big time. I thought all the language of, "Hey, we do it different because we're Delta" and "We're not operating on a pre-9/11 mentality. We're going at 'em!" was really just laughable.
   
   As much as I'd like to blame the knucklehead planners at the Pentagon or the bungling government, I think this book is basically a confession that Delta Force was primarily responsible for failure. Maybe the Green Berets at Tora Bora had their hands tied, but Delta was left to go to work. These guys are supposed to be so tough, but all they did was call in a bunch of airstrikes and had friendly Afghans do most of the actual fighting.
   
   Calling in airstrikes is only going to do so much, and it's shocking to see Delta Force pursuing such an important mission with such haphazard amateurishness. This is all by their own account! I think any infantry force would have actually assaulted. Maybe they should send Rangers or Marines next time because it's not worth another Dalton Fury dropping the ball (well unless...) .

5 comments about Inside Delta Force: The Story of America's Elite Counterterrorist Unit.

1. Eric Haney does a great job telling the surprisingly rough history of Delta Force, which is the highest and most secretive unit in the U.S. military. I get the feeling there were some things he wasn't allowed to talk about in this book for security reasons, but what he does talk about is very informative and interesting. Not only do we get to see what the strenuous training is like, but we also get a look at what some of the missions were like for Haney and some of the other soldiers who were part of Delta Force's original unit. It sounds like he worked with a great group of guys who were very likeable. Unfortunately some of these men are no longer living becuase of the risks they took to protect America and other countries from terrorism.
   
   The missions these soldiers take part of are very dangerous, and sometimes many lives are at stake, but these guys are capable of completing the missions without any harm being done either to themselves or to the hostages they might be trying to rescue. It's a good feeling knowing we have soldiers of this caliber protecitng our country in such a dangerous world. Overall, this is a very well written book. Haney's writing is very smooth and straight forward. I felt like I got a good feeling of his personality in his writing, which made this book more interesting to read. I enjoyed every chapter, and am now curious to learn more about Delta Force and to read more stories about the U.S. military and its elite units.



2. This book gave a lot of info but i felt that it left a lot of unanswered questions. I thought the details of how Delta Force came about was fascinating but after that it got a little boring. I would have liked more information and stories like the one about the very first and disastrous delta force mission.



3. Excellent job. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't any more information than there was but it was still a good read.



4. Haney tells the story from his experience and it is great. He describes in detail his Selection and training to become an operator. Obviously, he doesn't tell everything but what he does makes it an interesting read. He was there during the disastrous rescue attempt of the hostages in Iran and tells what happened. He also talks about other missions is Latin America as well. The hit TV show "The Unit" was based off this book and you can tell. I recommend this book because it gives great insight to the forming and early years of this elite unit. I am going to read it again.



5. I read this after watching the unit on television. I really liked the tv show. The book was even better. If you are looking for a glimpse inside our special operations forces I would highly recommend this book.

5 comments about Get Selected! for Special Forces: How to Successfully Train for and Complete Special Forces Assessment & Selection.

1. Excellent book for young men preparing to join SF. I bought it for my son who just enlisited for SF. It has provided him the rgiht focus on what he needs to do to prepare.



2. Great book to help prepare for SFAS. The 30-day workout is great to get started and easy to adapt to increase difficulty over the next few months. Also all the recommended reading and footcare tips are very helpful. A must for all non prior service X Rays.



3. I've recently signed my 18X contract, and as I assume that many who are looking at this book are planning to do the same, let me assure you, this book is a great asset. Where I'm currently living, there isn't a nearby post nor a SF recruiting batt nor National Guard unit nearby, which puts me on my own for training. This book has become my trainer.
   
   It's full of useful "tips & tricks," which are what really make the Major's book different than everything else I've read. Lots of books will talk about Selection and what occurs there, but nothing else has given me useful advice on how to lace my boots, treat my feet, take care of my back, and what resources are available to my family. This book gives me information as if I was being prepped 1-on-1 by my squad leader, which makes it very personal and easy to read.
   
   "Get Selected," as the Major states, was intended to help quality candidates prep for, and pass, Selection. I believe that with advice contained within, hard work and discipline, we can definitely succeed at SFAS.



4. First let me say thank you to the authors of this book. Definitely one of the best books I have ever read. I have never left a review before but had to give a quick nod to this one. They put a lot of thought into this book and tried to answer every area of concern, they could think of that the aspiring Special Forces applicant might need to know. The other branches of the military should take heed and follow suit. Thank you for the great info!



5. Maj Martin asides from giving you tools and an understanding of what it takes to succeed at SFAS, also gives valuable information pertaining to how to take care of your feet on a ruck march. whether active duty or a civilian this will help you get an understanding of SF and what you will need to have to make it through SFAS (mentally anyhow) and tips on how to keep yourself from getting hurt.

5 comments about Chosen Soldier: The Making of a Special Forces Warrior.

1. This was a great read for anyone who is interested in joining the army for the purpose of becoming a green beret. This book really illustrates what make the Army Special Forces the worlds finest warriors. The in depth descriptions of how the cadre test the candidates as well as what they look for can help any prospective green beret get ahead with preparing himself.



2. This is a great book. Very credible considering he is the only author to ever go through from start to finish. Would be nice if he had the Infantry OSUT portion included. I couldn't put it down.



3. I picked up "Chosen Soldier" on a recommendation from a friend, and actually read it before I attended Selection myself. Although Selection is an ever changing process, I think that Mr. Couches "Chosen Soldier" is/ should be a MUST READ for anyone interested in Selection themselves.
   
   As a former Navy SEAL, Mr. Couch has a unique insite into the Special Operations world. He does an outstanding job of setting up the entire book w/ a chapter to explain all the acronyms and jargon used in the book, not to mention the differences between Special Operation and Special Forces. He goes on to give the reader a special look at the men going through the course, which he follows from start to finish, by doing personal interviews with them. Asking about where they went to school, their families, and why their reasons for being at Selection to begin with. As I said, Mr Couch follows the students from beginning to end. He does an great job breaking down the specific jobs of each team member into their own dedicated chapters.
   
   Long-story-short, overall, this book is a great read. I read it before attending Selection myself and I thought it was a lot of help in helping me prepare. Afterwards, I found it to be very accurate. When I left, my wife picked it up and read it. When I came home, she asked me, "How was the Nasty Nick?" ... that was the last thing I wanted to think about.
   
   I can see myself reading this one a couple more times, as well as keeping within reach as a reference as I make my own way through the course.
   
   Thanks for a great read, Mr. Couch!



4. A rare and interesting glimpse into the journey of becoming a S.F. soldier. The book gets a little bogged down with acronyms, in addition to speling erors, which detract from the readability. Overall, the underlying message is clear- these guys are tough, intelligent, and adaptable. If you want to know what it takes to qualify for S.F., this is a must read. Thanks to Dick Couch and all those that serve our country.



5. Covered everything it should from start to finishm with the exception of the stuff he couldn't write about. All in all a very good book for anyone thinking about going SF

5 comments about Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of US Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan.

1. The book describes the activities of a group of U.S. special forces that assisted the Northern Alliance in defeating the Taliban. The last part of the book focuses on the Qala-I-Janghi prison riot. This riot was well covered by the news media. News footage of the riot and ensuing battle can be found on youtube. This was an eye-opening book. It covered the relevant history of the Taliban in Afghanistan, its battles with the Northern Alliance and the close relationship between the Northern Alliance and the special forces. Battles are described in gripping detail.



2. It was hard to keep track of all of the characters and their ranks. But all in all a good story that I passed on to a family member to read.



3. this book is a reminder of how much we owe these "unsung heros". This book shares the day to day challenges, including victories and defeats of our special forces working behind the scenes.



4. This truly is a riveting retelling of post 911 Special Forces soldiers and CIA operatives that entered Afghanistan and engaged in the fight against Al Qaeda. So many unsung heroes that have sacrificed love, life, and family in the call of duty- I, for one, am grateful and humbly indebted to the many who have bravely fought and faced enemies, and who would do it all over again in the name of freedom.



5. I have been doing a lot of reading about Afghanistan recently, and was very excited to read this book. I was, therefore, quite dissapointed at how poorly written/edited it is. I had to stop myself from putting it down (permanently) in frustration at many times.
   
   I was first struck by the poor quality of writing. We are givenso many insignificant, mundane, and often repetitive details. I lost track of how many men had "peppered" beards or "salt and pepper" hair. Somebody get this guy a Thesaurus. I really don't care if he was wearing "jeans and a black sweater" unless it really adds to the story. Add to this, a very long list of characters, and you have a recipe for confusion. Or how about page 124 where we are told that Nelson "worried about Jean (his wife) having the baby without him while he was gone. Most people didn't think soldiers cared about that kind of thing. But Nelson did." What kind of "soldiers-are-so-tuff-they-don't" care BS is this guy pedalling. So I am to believe that most people think that soldiers don't care/worry about their wives giving birth to their first born alone while their husbands are at war? WTF!!! I would think that something was SERIOUSLY wrong with any person (soldier or not) who wasn't concerned about being gone when their wife was giving birth to their first born. I would also I would think something was quite wrong with anyone who didn't feel the same way.
   
   More offensive, though, was the AMAZINGLY poor editing. For example, how did an editor (if there was one) not recognize the appaling sentence structure of "Dean pretty much believed there wasn't something he couldn't improve, himself most of all" on page 169 (center). Or even worse, on page 283, we are told that Herat is "about sixty miles west of Mazar", when the map opposite page 1 shows it is over 150 miles! Then, only 6 pages later on page 289 we are told that "General Dostum would afford them safe passage to the nearby ancient city of Herat, east of Mazar". Did you catch that...Herat is now EAST of Mazar - Unbelievable!
   
   An amazing story virtually ruined. If you feel like wading through a very poorly written story, there is good information to be gleaned, but if you are the kind of person who even half-way pays attention to detail...well, you've been warned.

5 comments about The Mission, The Men, and Me: Lessons from a Former Delta Force Commander.

1. I am thirty three years old and worked for a time at a Bible College in upstate New York and then returned to my home state to finish my four year degree. I had ACL reconstruction in 2007. Now I am looking to go into the army as an officer in the next few months. This book really resonated with me and has inspired me to a higher level. I just wanted to thank the author for the book. This book caused me to ask several questions.
   
   What is my motivation? Love of country, desire to help others. Am I committed to being the warrior athlete? I'm pretty sure the author would say it is my duty. The principles are freeing when you get a chance to evaluate and get above the clouds and see life as patterns. I'll definitley read this book several more times. Thanks, Mr Blaber. I'll shoot for the highest goals and remember that life is complex, so I need to be ready to adapt.



2. I was involved in much of the action in the area of operations in which the majority of the story takes place. After reading reviews here, I thought I was going to find it hard to put down and learn lessons to apply in this "after life." Not so. I kept waiting for the good part, the details of what training and life was like as a Special Forces soldier in the 2001-2007 time frame. The stories need to be told, but I felt it came up short on the details of what it was like... unlike so many Nam books. In those, you learned the ramifications of having a cold while on patrol as a squad, the utility of a p-38, and interrogation technics used against POWs, for example. 'It's in the details.'



3. It's got plenty of patting himself on the back. Maybe a good editor could have made it a "management" book, by cutting out the self-congratulations and sticking to the theme, but, in the end, i'd recommend it. You can use the ideas, and the stories are interesting.



4. I realy injoyed this book. I has some interesting pricipals for all aspects of life. Informitive and insightfull, yet plesent to read. I would definatly reccomend this book.



5. The Mission, The Men, and Me; in that order. Through compelling stories about his time as a commander with the U.S. Army's Elite Counter Terrorist Unit - DELTA FORCE, Pete Blaber illustrates battle tested leadership principles used in the most intense situations in the world. If these principles work for the Unit, they will work for you. If you have any interest in leadership that works you owe it to yourself, and more importantly to your team, to read this book.

5 comments about The Only Thing Worth Dying For: How Eleven Green Berets Forged a New Afghanistan.

1. A wonderful book that shows who the real heroes are. Too bad they are interfered with by the sometimes dumb brass.A must read if you are interested in the politics of the service and who the real soldiers are.A very reflective book on Afghanistan also.Too bad Bush got bored and went to Iraq instead of finishing the job in Afghanistan!I highly recommend the book.



2. Eric Blehm is a marvelous and immensely talented writer. He lays out the background story of The Only thing Worth Dying For in the beginning chapters, quickly running through a huge number of people's names and military jargon.
   
   Blehm's talents are many and difficult to describe in a review - much better to read in person. But #1 amongst his talent is Blehm's ability to concisely interpret interviews and reports into a coherent whole. His depiction of events involving evaluation of wounded soldiers is graphic and real. Blehm is a researcher who digs deeply into his subject, reading and interviewing and tracking every bit of information to its source.
   
   Another of Blehm's talents for those of us without a military background is the way he takes military jargon and reduces it to just the important concepts. He also succeeds in helping readers follow the ever-expanding cast of characters.
   
   Nothing in Blehm's writing is extraneous. Nothing is wasted.
   
   The best part of The Only Thing Worth Fighting For is that, though written in the genre of creative non-fiction, Blehm is scrupulous in keeping himself out of the story. He lets the ODA team, and what happened to them in Southern Afganistan, stay front and center throughout the book.
   
   Eric Blehm is writer we should keep an eye on. He is young, though experienced. He is talented. His next project will be greeted with much anticipation. I'm sure it will be as great as The Last Season and The Only Thing Worth Fighting For.



3. Incredible. I hate reviews that spoil the story, so all I'll say is that this book is not pro-war or anti-war. It tells a story of brave men and some terrible things that good people go through.



4. Have not had a chance to read this yet, but it's the next one I plan to read!



5. I'm not a huge reader, but I have a personal connection to one of these soldiers. This is an amazing story about the bravery, stength and courage of our soldiers and the danger (and stupidity) that they face everyday. It's not a "war" story or "political" novel, but a story men making sacrifices for the greater good. While I already know my friend's an amazing person, it was comforting to see that this story re-affirmed that. Thank you to the brave soldiers of the ODA574.

5 comments about Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10.

1. Surely, you the know the background of his story, but hearing about the physical and mental extremes he went through during this historical fight from the lone survivor makes it a must read. SF soldiers have a never back down, never quit, always succeed mentality and he makes their very clear in his book. Remember, this is the guy to got in a high speed chase after two thugs killed his dog.



2. Lone survivor is an awesome book. I like the audio version and played it back and forth to work. What a story. God bless the Navy Seals. They are true heroes. Marcus Lutrell is THE MAN!



3. I have read several military books, all of which I have enjoyed (Shooter, Inside the Crosshairs, House to House, Marine Sniper, just to name a few). But this was by far the most interesting war book I have ever read, and I read the entire book within two days (not bad for a college student with multiple tests that week). The book was just captivating and simply hard to put down.
   
   The first half of the book is somewhat a review for anyone familiar with SEAL training and Hell Week, but the writers found a way to make it very personal and interesting, tracing Mr. Luttrell's journey through BUD's. The writers take the reader on a first hand account of Class 226 and 228's training.
   
   Slightly before midway through the book is when the writers begin the narration of Operation Red Wing, and I can honestly say I read the remaining 200+ pages nonstop. The account of that dreadful operation is simply amazing, and Mr. Luttrell's story got my heart racing at times, and had me tearing up in others. Just an amazing account of what happened and the men involved.
   
   I can understand some reviews that say Mr. Luttrell uses the book as his soap-box against the "liberal media", and quite frankly the reviewers are correct. Although I agree with Mr. Luttrell to an extent on the issue, I did at times get a little frustrated hearing about the topic repeatedly.
   
   But to be honest, this is such a minor detail in the book, and does not take away enough away from the books main purpose of telling the story of the brave men involved in Operation Red Wing and their heroics. Anyone who would give this book a one star rating for the political message in the book is out of their mind, and I truly believe that, because it is such a minor part of the book. Furthermore, anyone who claims the book is boring or written poorly, well I would love to hear some recommendations from you all, because it would have to be ONE HELL of an exciting book!
   
   If you are interested in a story of modern warfare and the men who risk all conducting it, this is the book for you, I highly recommend it!



4. Excellent story of Navy Seal training, patriotism, modern warfare and the men who risk all conducting it. Very readable and intelligent. I highly recommend it!



5. I really enjoy reading these military accounts which take you behind the lines and make you feel like you're right there with the military members who are living these incredible events. I thought it was a great story of his life and training and preparation and the very heroic battle that these brave warriors fought to protect and defend all of us who are so lucky to live in this great country. It makes me appreciate our military more after reading this book. It was a great read.